Chapter 5

Isabel took a few deep breaths, quickly calming down before setting the fruit knife down. Then, she got a Band-Aid and put it over her wound.

If not for Cameron pushing her so far, she wouldn't have needed to hurt herself. The current Isabel would only love herself more—she wouldn't let herself end up bruised and broken anymore.

Once she was sure Cameron had left the neighborhood, she moved her things downstairs and into her car. She didn't waste time as she headed to Premiero Estate.

The estate had many property types. When she arrived at the apartment Dominic had assigned to her, she realized it wasn't an ordinary old apartment. It was a spacious, full-floor apartment with a private elevator entrance.

After she moved her things in, she looked out the study window and saw Zeeson Manor halfway up the mountain. She had mixed feelings about that. Dominic's "thoughtfulness" was too deliberate.

Isabel headed to the supermarket to purchase some necessities after unpacking her things. Then, she drove to Seaford Corporation. She pulled over by the side of the road and called Samuel.

He answered almost immediately, sounding hoarse. "Hi, babe."

She was about to speak when she noticed something was off with his tone. She asked, "Are you in a meeting?"

"…Yeah." He took a deep breath, trying to make himself sound normal. "I think I'll still be busy today, babe. Can we talk about this tonight? I'll meet you at our marital home."

He let out a soft groan at the end of his sentence.

Isabel shut her eyes, reminded of the nauseating scene she'd witnessed the night before. She couldn't stomach the thought of having to talk about divorce with Samuel so soon after he was done fooling around with someone else. She was worried the stench would make her puke.

"Alright. Tonight, then." She hung up immediately after that, feeling revolted. Even though her hand wasn't dirty, she wiped it roughly and deleted the record of the phone call from her phone. Only then did she feel better.

She called her friend, Kimberly York, as she started the car again. "Kimmy, are you at the store now? I'll go to you."

Meanwhile, in Samuel's office, he zipped up his pants the moment he released. The lust he'd worn on his face just moments ago had already disappeared, and he said to Winona, "You can go now."

Her face was flushed, and her eyes were still misty with desire. "You're so heartless, Sam. We've just finished, and you're already kicking me out?"

He shot her a look. "You're my sister-in-law, yet you've been in my office for so long. Don't you know people will talk? I won't let you off the hook if Izzy hears about any of this."

Winona became green with jealousy when she heard that he was still hung up on Isabel. She wanted nothing more than for Isabel to die.

She bit her lip and said, "I've already agreed to settle for being your mistress, and I'm not asking for anything more. I just want you to occasionally show me some love. Can't you agree to such a tiny request?"

Samuel said indifferently, "I'll give you a set of jewelry."

Winona was even more upset by him wanting to brush her off with that. "Sam, I'm not doing this for money!"

"That's all I can give you. Izzy is the only one who can have my heart." He didn't give her the chance to throw a tantrum. "Are you going to threaten me with suicide again? If you are, you'd better not do it in Jeriton. Do it somewhere far, far away."

Winona's resentment surged. However, at the thought of how much effort she'd put into seducing Samuel, she suppressed her anger and softened her tone. "I'm sorry, Sam."

"Get going," he said impatiently.

She pursed her lips in frustration, having no choice but to leave.

She had an idea as she stood in the elevator. She took a photo of the elevator floor display and sent it to Isabel, feeling smug. She wrote, "I was in Sam's office when you called him earlier, you know."

Isabel had just glanced at the message when Kimberly snatched her phone. After reading the text, she snapped, "This so-called depressed bitch is so shameless! I told you the psychiatrist that the Shores got was a quack, didn't I? Look at the way she's acting! That's not depression—that's homewrecker disorder!"

Isabel smiled at that. Still, she wanted to clarify something. "They hired a psychiatrist who's globally renowned, so the diagnosis can't be wrong."

"Oh. Well, this just means that her depression has mutated. She's out of her mind now." Kimberly returned the phone and looked at Isabel with sympathy. "You've been with that asshole for so long. Are you sure you can let go and move on?"

Isabel sipped her tea and lowered her eyes to conceal the sorrow in them. "I need emotional exclusivity."

She didn't mind her partner having had past relationships, but there was no way she would accept him being involved with other women while they were together. Samuel knew that, yet he'd still gone ahead with it.

"I thought Samuel was the exception to the rule whereby all men would cheat. How dumb," Kimberly growled. "Cheating men are garbage."

Just then, Isabel's phone rang. It was a call from Sheila.

Kimberly raised an eyebrow when she saw the caller ID. "I bet she wants you to go home. Find an excuse to brush her off?"

Isabel picked up the phone and curled her lip. "Even if I can get away with this today, they'll still come after me tomorrow. This is unavoidable."

With that, she answered the phone. "Hi, Mom."

Sheila commanded, "Tell Samuel to come over for dinner tonight. I want you to come by earlier—I have something to tell you."

…

An hour later, Isabel arrived at the Shore residence. When she entered the living room, she saw Winona curled up in Sheila's arms. The latter smiled affectionately while feeding her some fruit.

Isabel was about to look away when Winona shot her a taunting look. She ignored it and said, "Mom, I'm back."

Almost at the same time, Winona got up and said, "I'm a little sleepy, Mom. Call me when dinner's ready."

She yawned and turned to head upstairs. Behind her, Sheila stood up and said gently, "Alright. I will."

When she turned to face Isabel, her attitude took a complete turn. She snapped, "How could you take Samuel away like that when Winnie was in such danger? Do you think you're a member of the Klein family now that you and Samuel have registered your marriage?"

Isabel calmly explained, "I was worried about Winona, too, Mom. But neither Samuel nor I are psychiatrists—we couldn't have done anything, even if we'd stayed."

"How dare you talk back to me!" Sheila raised a hand to slap her.

"Mom!" Cameron showed up in the nick of time and grabbed Sheila's wrist. "Samuel is coming over for dinner for the first time after marrying Izzy. Everyone will be here. How do you expect Izzy to face them if you hit her now?"

Isabel stood there, looking aloof. She wasn't moved by Cameron saving her. Even if he hadn't shown up, she wouldn't have allowed the slap to land without getting something out of it.

"She's nothing but an ingrate! Why are you defending her?" Sheila screeched.

Before Cameron could answer, Isabel put on a fake smile and said, "I'm an ingrate if you think I am, but let me remind you of something, Mom. The Shore family is considered one of Jeriton's prestigious families. What do you think the outside world will say when they hear about what happened in Winona's room last night?"

"Izzy, stop." Cameron grabbed her hand.

"Why would outsiders know about what happened in our home? If they do find out, then it must be because you can't keep your mouth shut!" Sheila pointed at Isabel. "Do you think you'd be standing here if we hadn't raised you?

"Could you have married someone of Samuel's status? Know your place! You should be grateful to us for taking you in for so many years!"

Isabel broke free of Cameron's grip and stood before Sheila with her head held high. She said, "I have nothing to say about the Shore family raising me, and I know you and Dad went through a lot to finally find Winona, your birth daughter.

"I know you two just want to make things up to her, no matter the price. But don't you know that everything has a limit? Samuel and I are husband and wife now, yet you indulged in your daughter as she seduced my husband. Do you think that's right?"